Chance of snow as forecasters predict ‘very chilling’ winds

SNOW is expected to make an early new year appearance but be gone just as quickly.

Eastern parts are likely to be at greatest risk of snow showers as the country enters a brief spell of very chilly weather.

Forecasters are predicting “very chilling” east to northeast winds tonight, with the weather expected to remain very cold tomorrow night, although winds will have eased.

There will be widespread frost and dry conditions in most places. Tomorrow night some falls of snow are “possible”, mainly in Ulster and north Leinster.

Friday will start off very cold but generally dry. Milder weather is expected from the Atlantic during the day and after dark.

By the weekend, sunny spells are expected with scattered blustery showers, mainly over the western half of the country.

Apart from outbreaks of rain in the south, the rest of the country should remain dry today, according to Met Éireann. After enjoying mild weather over the past couple of days, conditions are going to get considerably colder tomorrow and on Friday.

“There could be snowfalls in eastern areas for a while on Thursday,” said Met Éireann forecaster Joan Blackburn.

“But the whole period is going to be short-lived because by the end of Friday, the Atlantic influence pushes the cold air back to the east again.” As the rain comes in on Friday, there might be some sleet ahead of that.

Our cold snap is a carry-over of plummeting temperatures about to grip Britain. Weather forecasters there are warning of freezing Siberian winds, with heavy snowfalls likely to cause transport chaos.

In Britain, snowfalls are predicted for late tomorrow night.